By Roger Caldwell
Is the Black community in the mix when it comes to the general election in 2022? We always seem to be making excuses when it comes to the mid-term elections, because no one knows who is running.
It is easy to blame the candidates because they don’t have any funds, and it takes money to run a successful campaign. It is also easy to blame the parties, because the primary is a time when candidates throw money in the air to get name recognition. It gets serious when the general election starts.
During the primary there are very few debates and political forums. The candidates have months to get their platform to the voters. Many think the primary is corrupt, and the candidates already know who is going to win from the very beginning. In many of the districts, there will be less than 20% of the registered voters to turn out to vote.
This is a sad statement in American politics, when less than 20% in districts vote. This is an indictment on the sad shape of politics in America, because most people don’t care.
At this point in America, most citizens vote during the presidential election cycle, and in 2020 more people voted than ever before. Over 70 million Americans voted for former President Trump, and over 80 million voted for President Biden. This was phenomenal and Americans should be proud.
But many Americans don’t understand that the mid-term election is just as important as the presidential election. Many significant positions such as governors, mayors, senators, judges, and commissioners, are determined by the mid-term elections. Many of these 4 and 6 year positions are powerful, and they can change the direction and the financing of a state for 10 years.
In Florida the governor and his cabinet have been primary Republican for 20 years, and there were more Democrats on the voting polls. This made no sense, but Governor DeSantis has fixed that problem and now there are more Republicans on the polls. He has also created an election police to control that the polls stay red.
Many political experts are expecting Governor DeSantis to start busing immigrants to other states in the country to keep the state red. It does not matter what the Republicans do to keep Florida red, diversity will eventually win.
To begin with, Black Floridians are not organized and they have no agenda in 2022. If 85% of Black Floridians who are registered voted, people of color and Democrats would win elections. Statewide elections would be won by Democrats, and the state Florida Democratic Party would start to spend more money with the Black media. Education would be the key and the youth are the second key to winning more statewide elections. Finally, the third key would be the Hispanic vote.
Many of the youth are independents, but they are progressives, and they would align and partner with the Democrats, along with the Hispanics. Florida elections are razor thin because more 18 to 24-year old individuals don’t vote, and more Hispanics must vote. Educating the youth in high school to the importance of voting, would change America significantly.
Young people, Hispanics and Black folks don’t understand their power as Americans, when it comes to voting. This is a game changer, because this will create new leaders who speak the truth.
Every election is critical, and it does not matter if it is a mid-term or a presidential one. Your vote is your voice, and there must be unity in the community for the candidates to listen and teach. Get organized and understand the issues. Remember to take your friends and family with you when you vote and stay engaged after the election.
